DHARWAD: Dacoits struck several houses in Dharwad in the wee hours of Saturday and attacked family members before making away with cash, jewellery and other valuables.The incidents were reported from Shrinagar Shambhavi Nagar and Ganesh Nagar areas on Haliyal Road . All these areas are along the railway track. It was around 3am when a group of dacoits struck the houses and ransacked the cupboards. They hit those who resisted and tried to raise an alarm. A security guard suffered serious injuries as the dacoits hit him with iron rod. He has been admitted to KIMS Hospital in Hubballi.Residents in Shrinagar and Shambhavi Nagar said the dacoits snatched gold chains and other ornaments. "Police arrived much later and inspected the spots," said a resident.Suburban police have registered a case. Senior police officers visited the spot with dog squad and fingerprint experts.The incident sent shockwaves among the people. What is more worrying is the failure of police in detecting the cases of theft and housebreak.On May 31, 2013, burglars gained entry into the house of a retired professor of Karnataka University in Ulavi Basaveshwar Hills, Dharwad between 7pm and 8pm. They decamped with 900gm of gold and Rs 7 lakh in cash.The family members had gone out for a marriage. The investigation into the case made no headway and police are being criticized for the laxity.Dharwad known as pensioners' paradise has several monumental bungalows where only old couples live. Saraswatpur, Rajatgiri, Keshav Nagar, Gopalpur, Vidyagiri, Malamaddi, UB Hill, Kelgeri Road and Sadhanakeri areas have several such bungalows situated on sprawling half acres of land and having huge trees.Guarding these properties has become a headache for the owners of the property.

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